3 Surprising kitchen trends for 2018
From unique lighting solutions to multi-functional elements, it's time to think outside the box when it comes to kitchen design
1. Unique lighting solutions
We love using unique lighting at Papilio and we try to incorporate different styles within any of our kitchens or other rooms. Lighting is one of the most important features in the home. It’s one of the places where people tend to go cheap or deal with existing fixtures, yet, actually poor lighting can be detrimental to the other area where you have spent money.
We tend to incorporate three or more lighting features within a room from a statement light, to pendant lights to spotlights and under island lighting.
Lighting under cabinetry and counters is an easy way to change the atmosphere of a room and add a futuristic feel which is why we’ve seen a lot of our clients requesting it or loving the idea when we suggest it. Concealed LED’s can be placed under the worktops to transform a kitchen into an entertaining space and add a pop of colour with some neon accents as you can see in The Chefs Kitchen. It’s an easy way to illuminate a room and add a little bit of contrast to the existing lighting features, always a crowd pleaser!
2. Multi-functional elements
Why have one use for a sink when you can have a multi-functional trough which can be used for anything from chilling oysters, champagne or growing herbs, and of course as a traditional sink to prepare food at too.
For the avid entertainer the multi-purpose integrated trough sink is the perfect addition to any kitchen and with more homeowners looking to add that “wow-factor” to their home, this has been a favourite amongst suggestions to clients. This once again comes down to how people use their kitchens and how we can make the room extra special and as functional as can be. In this instance, in The Copper Kitchen, the client was keen to host within the space so we even incorporated colour changing LEDs to create a high-end show-stopping space.
3. Feature taps
Moving on from the Brass material trend, feature taps are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners not wanting to settle for an ‘ordinary’ sink area. Statement sinks really can make the difference in your kitchen and Waterworks are one of our favourite brands to source from.
4. Open shelving
We have seen open shelving becoming increasingly popular amongst clients. This easy and accessible option allows homeowners to make a statement in their kitchen by adding their own personality with small accessories and even deluxe food items placed on the shelving.
It’s the perfect chance to add lots of greenery in a physical format with bright, airy kitchens providing the perfect setting for succulents and hanging Ivy, incorporating yet another important interior style trend. We’d advise pairing them with handmade ceramics for an artisanal and more unique finish.
In our Georgian Oak Crisp clean lines and texture are at the forefront of the design, with Oak veneers taking centre stage across the cabinetry, worktops and open shelving units, all custom-made by local craftsmen. Designed to stand out, the space features discreet handle details and provides ample opportunity to display the client’s distinct chinaware and objet d’art. It’s a striking design showing open shelving at its best.
5. Living walls
Living walls are going to be a hit in the kitchen this year, with botanicals being on trend for the past few years, consumers are on to the next thing - feature walls made from moss.
We discovered MOSSwall at Clerkenwell this year and just as the name suggests MOSSwall appears as a wall of natural moss available in a wide range of different colours.
MOSSwall is a simple concept but delivers a striking visual and in addition the natural moss provides excellent acoustic absorption.
Acoustic absorption is required in areas where high reverberation occurs because of the area’s surface finish. If the room contains hard surfaces, sound will continue to travel which makes speech difficult to understand. The knock-on effect will be that volume increases as users raise the voices to be heard. The introduction of acoustic absorption, in whatever form, will shorten the sound wave, increase speech intelligibility and lower volume. This is quite a big deal for us in our own kitchen design as we always want to create the best environment.
Story by: Matt Prall and Stephen Garland of Papilio
Home kitchen bathroom commercial design
Light-filled and harmonious
Homely, inviting – and lived in
Nature infused